Old Westbury, N.Y. (March 6, 2013) ̶ Greenhouse gas emissions on Long Island decreased in 2010 by nearly 10% from 2005 levels, according to New York Institute of Technology’s latest inventory of island-wide emission levels.

Students and faculty from the School of Engineering and Computing Sciences worked on the greenhouse gas emission inventory, known as the Long Island Carbon Footprint Project. As part of the study, funded by the Rauch Foundation, the NYIT group updated and improved a 2005 study conducted by another nonprofit organization and expanded the collection of data from numerous sectors, including transportation and other residential and commercial activities. They also classified the source of emissions generated through electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, gasoline, and diesel fuel.

The new results show a 9.75% drop in greenhouse gas emissions on Long Island. In both 2005 and 2010, the residential sector accounted for more than a third of emissions, with electricity consumption serving as the largest residential source of greenhouse gas emissions. Residential, commercial, and industrial emissions dropped from 2005 to 2010.

The researchers concluded that on a per capita level, each Long Islander reduced his or her carbon footprint by 9.78% between 2005 and 2010. The likely cause, they said, is the use of more energy efficient technology in homes and buildings.

“This Green House Gas inventory serves as a rallying point for governments, businesses, organizations and residents to coordinate climate initiatives across Long Island,” said Business Development Director Greg Banhazl, who led the project. “Through its energy management and environmental programs, NYIT is pleased to play an active role in this ongoing effort to assist Long Island to become more energy efficient and environmentally responsible.”

The data collected by the NYIT group serves as a baseline for communities to assess their emission levels and track their progress in reducing emissions.

“We are proud to support the work done by the New York Institute of Technology to track Long Island’s greenhouse gas emissions”, said Nancy Rauch Douzinas, president of the Rauch Foundation. “This information will be a useful tool in moving toward a more sustainable and environmentally responsible Long Island.”

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About NYIT

New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) offers 90 degree programs, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees, in more than 50 fields of study, including architecture and design; arts and sciences; education; engineering and computing sciences; health professions; management; and osteopathic medicine. A non-profit independent, private institution of higher education, NYIT has 14,000 students attending campuses on Long Island and Manhattan, online, and at its global campuses. NYIT sponsors 11 NCAA Division II programs and one Division I team.

Led by President Edward Guiliano, NYIT is guided by its mission to provide career-oriented professional education, offer access to opportunity to all qualified students, and support applications-oriented research that benefits the larger world. To date, more than 92,000 graduates have received degrees from NYIT. For more information, visit nyit.edu.